MLB Trade Rumors: Dan Uggla To The Rockies??
by Ray Guilfoyle on Jun 22, 2010 12:01 PM EDT
in Baseball
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PrintRockies SS Troy Tulowitzki was placed on the DL with a broken wrist on Friday, and since then there has been speculation that the Rockies will look outside the organization to replace him, as Tulo will be out 6-8 weeks. Should Tulo be out the minimum 6 weeks, we are looking at an early August return, otherwise we are looking at a mid-late August return.
Before getting injured, Tulo was hitting .306-.375-.502 with 9 HRs, 34 RBIs, 7 SBs, and 47 runs scored. To replace that production will be difficult for the Rockies. Internal infield options Chris Nelson and Jonathan Herrera won't come close to that production, and Melvin Mora can't play everyday, so the Rockies could look outside the organization to replace Tulo.
One option is Florida Marlins second baseman Dan Uggla who is eligible for arbitration this offseason, and the Marlins will more than likely look to deal Uggla should they fall out of the NL East race within the next month or so.
Uggla is hitting .259-.361-.486 with 14 HRs, 38 RBIs and 49 runs scored. He has averaged 30-100 over the last 4 seasons, and would look good hitting in the middle of the Rockies lineup. (Did i just say that??) The Rockies lineup without Tulo does not scare many teams as their top HR hitters are Carlos Gonzalez and Seth Smith, both of whom are young and have never started for a full season. Brad Hawpe has disappointed in the power department with just 5 bombs this season. Third baseman Ian Stewart has been riding the pine of late and has only 7 HRs to date, and first baseman Todd Helton has turned into the modern day Sean Casey.
So who would the Rockies have to give up for Dan Uggla? I am sure the Marlins would be looking for starting pitchers and the Rockies have a few very good pitching prospects in the minors, and one at the major league level that I am curious to see if they would make him available once Jorge De La Rosa returns from the DL. Jhoulys Chacin is the pitcher at the major league level who I think could become expendable should JDLR come back healthy within the next few weeks.
The Rockies rotation of Ubaldo (we can refer to him as just Ubaldo going forward, can't we?), JDLR, Aaron Cook, Jeff Francis and Jason Hammel is a formidable 1-5 rotation. Chacin could become expendable should the Rockies feel Uggla is the guy they want playing second base with Tulo on the DL.
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I think Chacin and JDLR have too much value to give either for Uggla. If they were to give a pitcher I suspect it would either be Francis or Hammel (dependent of contract situation of course).
If pitching is what they Fins are after I could realistically see Francis or Hammel go before Chacin or JDLR.
Chacin
comes cheaper than Hammel, as I assume Hammel is due for arbitration soon, no?
raygu
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I would think so
I am by no means an expert on these contract things or how arbitration works from year to year – I think I have a general idea but my notes and ideas below may be flawed….
JDLR resigned in the offseason for the Rockies to avoid arbitration – with his lengthy injury stay on the DL he could get a bit of a pay cut in next year’s arbitration offer? [1 year @ $5.6 million)
Hammel also resigned in the offseason to avoid arbitration – he has performed well enough thus far that I would think he would get a pay increase in next year’s offer. [1 year @ $1.9 million]
Jeff Francis is under contract through this year with a club option for next year. This year he sits at $5.75 million with the club option for next year at $7 million.
Chacin is on the payroll for whatever deal he has had since his contract was purchased by the big club… he was drafted initially in 2004 and got a taste last year… I suspect he is the cheapest of any of the guys being discussed and thus it is advantageous for Colorado to hang onto him.
Uggla on the other hand sits at $7.8 million after avoiding arbitration this offseason with the Marlins. He is on pace (roughly) to match last year’s production. That production in 2009 earned him a raise from $5.75 million to his current $7.8 million.
The Marlins certainly would have to eat some of the salary involved with Uggla as any of the pitchers in the hypothetical are cheaper to retain for following seasons… if the Marlins could get the deal done, it would probably make sense financially for them. Francis for Uggla would be the closest thing financially anyway… not sure what makes sense for each team though in this scenario. Obviously young pitching is always desirable.
by Bluethunder33 on Jun 22, 2010 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions
like the poll
trust me the marlins front office will be very optimistic and the only way of this not happening is the marlins fo asking for to much from the rockies, i hope this doesnt happen tho i hope we can start winning….even tho its a long shot right now
and if we trade uggla i dont want bull!@# pitching prospects back in return because all of the ones the marlins get from trades are bad, its like a 1 in 4 chance theyll end up in the majors SUCCESSFULLY i want some defense and speed for uggla not arms
As I Recall
The Rockies’ best prospects right now are mostly pitchers. I could see either Chacin or Hammel potentially getting it done, since they’d be getting some salary savings.
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